A BRIGHOUSE-based campaign has announced the appointment of a new ambassador in its continued fight against the loss of life through drink driving.

Kent Cross, a 17-year-old racing driver and double Formula Vee junior motor racing champion, recently moved from Australia to the UK to pursue his racing career and immediately contacted the Campaign Against Drinking and Driving charity.

Carole Whittingham, its chairman, said she and her fellow trustees were delighted by the approach.

She said: “For a young man to ask how he can help our campaign is heart-warming.

“He recognised that the biggest percentage of drink-drive accidents and deaths in Britain are caused by young men and suggested that he may be able to appeal to young drivers by publicising the dangers through his motor racing.

“I was immediately struck by Kent’s maturity and the reasons behind his enthusiasm for our work.’’

The aspiring F1 driver, who will be 18 in April, has already suffered the heartache of losing three of his friends in separate road accidents.

The first resulted in the death of four youngsters who, together with the driver of the vehicle, had all been out partying all night.

Kent, a British citizen, is aiming to race in Formula Renault this year and will be proudly wearing the CADD logo on his race suit, which will also feature on his car, new website, social media and all other promotional material.

He said: “This is a cause that is close to my heart and I feel honoured to be representing such a necessary campaign.

“The focus on drink driving is always heightened at Christmas, but accidents happen throughout the year and I hope that through a nine-month racing season I can help to maintain awareness longer term. To save even one life or reduce the number of injured would mean the world.’’

Some 3,000 people are killed or seriously injured each year in drink-drive collisions in Britain.